Mr. Putin will command nearly 13,000 troops in exercises.

Russian President Vladimir Putin always attends major military exercises because he is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

Russian army tank

Therefore, in the case of Putin's trip to the Zapad-2017 military exercises, it has nothing to do with the concerns expressed by Western countries, - the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists.

Mr. Peskov announced that on September 18, Mr. Putin will attend the joint Russia-Belarus Zapad-2017 military exercise in the Leningrad region.

"The president will monitor the strategic exercises on the training ground," Peskov said, denying that Putin's trip was linked to Western countries' expressed concerns about the exercises.

"No, the trip has nothing to do with that. This is a routine inspection visit to a major military exercise. Putin always makes such visits as the country's Commander-in-Chief," the press secretary of the Russian head of state said.

The Zapad-2017 strategic exercise will take place on the territory of Belarus, as well as at three Russian training grounds. The total number of participants in the exercise is 12,700 servicemen.

According to Sputnik